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Grateful Dead
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American music
God bless America
The times back then 1976 seem so different from the current days June 2020
Back then in 76 Nam was over
America was preparing for its two hundredth birthday party and celebrations
There was a degree of ease
Of course the 76 summer tour was gaining speed
JG and the band boogie away into the morning
Alchemy
Defeat the☠️ trump ☠️virus
Crush the ☠️trump ☠️ilk
Dead Heads Unite
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Use the power VOTE
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Crush and humiliate the trump virus
Defeat ☠️trump ☠️
VOTE
BY mail if you have to
Beat the ☠️trump ☠️virus
Wear a mask
86
45
2020
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Elrod, you are right that Jerry’s guitar is very out of tune in the beginning. I don’t hear him stop but he’s quiet. And so it’s remarkable that somehow he finds it back and still turns in an excellent Crazy Fingers. And the others providing great support. Perhaps he wanted a longer outdo to make up for the beginning.

Cant wait to hear the June 1976 that just came out, on which this show is included.

Everyone loves this Crazy Fingers.

After a close listen, I am pretty sure that Jerry isn’t playing lead at all - and barely anything at all - due to a bad tuning problem he discovers in the intro. Rather than stopping, Bobby seems to pick up the Jerry part.

Listen closely and tell me if you disagree.

Bob plays lead-ish parts on select songs in the repertoire...China Cat most famously. But he is not a lead player by inclination and it’s always ‘Weird’ when he does. This was a really interesting listen to me. What do you think?

I love the 1976 shows better than 1977. They sound less comercial and loose as a goose. Im also a huge fan of COSMIC CHARLIE, AND DANCIN'. And everything BLUES for ALLAH.

The first tour back from the '75 hiatus is full of great shows, half of which are relatively unrecognized. If you've heard the great 6/9 and/or 6/29, this is on par. It's hard to believe they played a pair of shows at the tiny (especially for the nation's largest metro area) Beacon Theater (upper west side, 2800 seats) - the only time they played here. This first show is the more extraordinary, overall, but they play as a pair. You'd sometimes see this show on all-time-best lists during B&P trading; but that's been awhile and, even though it was touted in DeadBase, seems it's now something of a hidden gem (it used to circ in low-gen, off-pitch AUDs). It has two very entertaining sequences.

First Set. Unusually solid from the start, flagging a bit to average by the end. Mama Tried has shades of a '71. You'll note some different textures than the usual in Row Jimmy and a slightly funkier, jazzier Cassidy (though not the tighest of the tour). If you like a Keith-heavy, perfect version, you'll love this Brown-Eyed; and check Bobby. Big River is a bubbler in '76. Jer is incredible and so is Keith. Their fills behind Bobby's verses sent me left at the lights. Might as Well is just the 5th airing and now ready to amaze. This is a helluva sequence. The last two of the set get sluggish and out of tune, but the open-ended jam in Playin' is worth hearing.

Second Set. The third-ever Wheel is a set opener, as in Boston. It gets better at the end of the tour, but this is still nice - especially the ending. I dig the era of stand-alone Wheels. Samson is also the winning, early arrangement. Donna is great on High Time, though it's not the best example from the tour. Music Never Stopped was also new and, as of now, delicious. Likewise Crazy Fingers, the 3rd one (not counting the Jerry & Friends '75 or the private show). It's OOT but unique enough, and goes into a Spanish-Jam-ish before a drum segue into Dancin'. This is the 2nd of the 6 return Cosmic Charlies, and the neatliest. Help on the Way is the 4th one toured and played fast. At this point, Slipknot! is actually more of a free jam more than a true Slipknot - and a helluva jam at that. Jeez, when we got a set full of new songs in '92, it sure as hell wasn't the likes of Might as Well and Crazy Fingers. The rest is average '76; Around & Around doesn't really go anywhere, then gets stumbly, though they were then a tight enough unit to handle such.

1st Set:  B
2nd Set: A
Overall = 4½ stars HG

Highlights:
Brown Eyed Women - listen to Keith and Bobby
Big River - incredible
Might as Well - first ace version
Music Never Stopped - new and delicious
Crazy Fingers - unique, with a Spanish-like jam and Drums segue
Cosmic Charlie - neatliest of the returns
Help on the Way - brisk and astonishing
Slipknot! - played as a free jam

SOURCES: The SBD sources are identical until partway into the second set. The gems_82308 works, but only the hollister_22804 is complete, and is the best source from High Time onward. Sir Mick did a few corrections for set-2_sbd_sirmick_78433, but High Time and Franklin's are cut off, plus the last seconds of MNS, and a few seconds are missing from Crazy Fingers @9:26. The Dusborne matrix is lively. The vernon_10917 AUD is pitched too slow.

Pretty much the only band who still sounds good while the guitars are out of tune

I wrote a review on this show 13 years ago and still have to say the sound just blows me away. One of the best quality I ever heard. I was so happy that I was able to download this show in SHN Format before they took it away. It's still in my top 5 of all time. '76 was I think the best year for the boys, primed up for '77.. I feel '77 is overrated because of Barton Hall.. Don't get me wrong it's a hot show I love it.. I guess it's the person.. Enjoy!!

"The man next to you is your brother"
Goes for our sister Donna Jean as well.

Another solid 6/76. Just a great month. Many lyric slips with Jerry, but the vocals are tight and the playing is adventurous. Crazy Fingers bridge is outstanding and the Slipknot! is a journey.

The board is sweet with decent stereo separation that is always a bonus. As always, a bit dry for a SBD, but clean at least.

Thanks Betty.

Dark Star Orchestra just played this show in Springfield Ohio! FREE!! I have heard this show before but never like the one here on Archive!!Whoever posted this show!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! Crazy Fingers!!! One of my all time Favs!! Jerry and the boys are always alive in my heart!!

Wow. What a magnificent show from the boys. I have always been a huge fan of 73, but this show is by far in my top 5. The Cosmic Charlie is so melodic and dreamy its unreal. The tempo through out the whole is show is a bit faster than usually, but that just furthur more shows you that they were honestly turning themselves on. Pure bliss.

Mid-year '76 has always been in the shadow of mid-year '77. It shouldn't be. This Tour period of '76 was really really good. Understated, jazzy, intellectual. Pleasurably subtle vocals by Donna, and a beautifully serene piano by Keith. Any rust of the hiatus is gone and they are expanding the Sound in unison. Once they get to the middle of '77, it's more like: "We're here, listen to this!" The famous '77 run is steroidal in contrast with this run in '76. This show keeps you in that warm, fuzzy, sleepy state of mind. May '77 screams "Wake-up!" June '76 whispers, "sleep tight........"

Very nice recording, but I always felt this was a pretty average show for this time period, and listening to it again after 25 years doesn't change my mind at all. The long jams in Playin and Slipknot in particular go pretty much nowhere. The next night at the Beacon, 6/15, has way more intensity and fire, a proper New York show, with 6/19 Capitol Theater making at least two better shows that week...

and listen again. wow. u tell me as I was not there but a cool venue. Cosmic Help; gravity throughout second set, too. I dig the pulls here.
--------------------------------------
Today is 2011-06-04.
All victory due to our beloved brave Captain! He was by far the strangest any could find. I miss him even more on holidays.
Who doesn't love the red white and blue?
..."learned to duck....", how 'bout you?

Best Crazy Fingers ever. It's like this sick Tango-like jam at the end - I'm really bad at describing music but this is the best CF I've ever heard. I have this show in SBD if anyone wants it shoot me an email.

Overall great June '76 show, if u like the other ones you'll enjoy this whole show.

...as the transition builds. The main theme of the jam is the normal CF outro-jam mode, though.

This, at least to me, is THE underrated Dead show. Everyone I knew had this tape but it just didn't seem to get the hype it deserved. This sbd sounds a world better than my old audience tape.

Everything is played to perfection. Personal highlights include a beautiful High Time, Cosmic Charlie and just listen to Phil attack Dancin'. Even Donna is bang-on for the majority of this performance.

Even if you're not a big 76 fan, be sure to check this out - it's a gem

Wow. I know '73 and '77 are the honey years, but this is super sweet, through and through, and the sound is clear as it gets here at the archive.
Excellent--5 stars without any reservations.

is right!


great mix as well.

Man, I can only imagine what it must have been like to be at the Beacon this night, definitely a DREAM SHOW FOR ME. ENJOY!!

Archive dot org is the greatest website ever.

The Franklins Tower just had my wife and I dancing 'round the living room! Love the early Frankins! Wicked sick!!!!

is fast-paced for '76 and expertly played. Takes off with a fast and bright BIG RIVER. Set closer PITB is 18 min. and everything you expect.

2nd Set highlights. Bob asks the eternal question what would happen if the music ever started? The set really begins at CRAZY FINGERS which is beautiful with a stunning outro that has a different seque into DANCIN. This version is very large and upbeat. COSMIC CHARLIE wants to steal the show and almost does, it is an upbeat version with everyone present and beautiful leads. They tune up for the next set of songs and we are glad they do. Phil takes the lead into HELP ON THE WAY and everyone lets him as they all join in. SLIPKNOT! is always a favorite for me and this one does not dissapoint. Starting off very exploratory, devolving into its drums/space-ness that it has want to do - they go to some real primordial places here for sure. It gets down to just Jerry and the drummers then Phil joins in with some sublime Leshy Phil-o-drama. The experimentation goes on until Bobby brings the rythm back and they all come back to the surface to run and dance on top for awhile. This starts to sound a little like the Dark Stars of '69. Really. They all finally find a common vector in the universe to meet at so they can bubble into FRANKLIN'S TOWER. This is a really fine transition too. Too bad it goes into a very so-so FRANKLIN'S. The playing is good but they've lost the mojo they had and can't seem to concentrate. AROUND is not sounding stellar but still nice. Jerry is confused and tries to get fast too early and you're not really sure what they're going to do but they get slow again only to get fast in the next line. Then they just end it.

US BLUES kicks butt not.

Very nice show overall, well worth the listen. I'm thinking 6/11 and 6/12 were better shows though.

the sound quality is amazing. and the show rules hard. even donna sounds good.

As a drummer, it drives me crazy if I cannot hear the high hat and cymbals properly. This is one of the few 76 shows that has really nice sound qaulity on the cymbals.

The crazy fingers is sweet, even if Jerry cant find the right scale during part of the song =/ they make up for it with a nice jam at the end... and hey that's how they rolled...

In the '70's that Bobby would often says it's Bill's or Mickey's birthday or anyone else in the band, even Uncle Bobo. Goofing on the crowd no less, always out for a laugh.

oh, and this show rips too!

First off,awesome show. Am I missing something here? Why does Bobby say it's Phil's birthday when it's on 3/15? I don't get it. Wrong show here? Or someone else named Phil in attendance? Any feedback from you guys out there? It's buggin' me.

this show is really really good, prolly one of my favorite shows and by far the best crazy fingers of 76 maybe even the best one ever. sit back, light one up and enjoy! also check out 6/26/76 if you like this show.

1976 is the best right!?! The dead go into the Emanant space of the Divine during Fingers.

The one and only 5 star rating for just one song from this head. You can pretty much count that the last 6-8 songs 2nd set in 76 are face melting.

Really heady Crazy Fingers>Drums>Dancin'

probably the best of both of their kinds.

The Fingers is supper bouncy, flawless on vocals, and has great key backing to the guitar carnival team of Garcia/Weir/Lesh

Good times with great shows. Anyone have this, i'll trade other quality 76 SBDs if so.

This is so sweet. The sound is Grate and the jams are oh so ON! One of the best from this year...

about sum it up: L*E*S*H. check him out on cassidy. 1000 cycles indeed!

oh, and it ain't his bday, no matter what bobby sez. i think they all had a birthday every night that tour.

but she is really off on some of the songs (esp. The Wheel & High Time)

The Crazy Fingers -> Franklins segment is excellent. i especially enjoyed the unique jam between Help & Slipknot.

The Bicentenial, The Return of the Mighty Grateful Dead heady times indeed. Cosmic Charlie( one of three)9/25 is the standard, but....

The band is much tighter than 20 days ago in Oregon.

Beautiful Sound. Dont be afraid to embrace 76' it's a great high energy year.

Sincerely,

Neil Skelton

Just wanted to say thank you to whomever posted this show. An absolute gem! Right up there with the 6/4 show 10 days earlier. The sound quality is impecable for a 30 year old show. Clean as a whistle with a very nice mix. I must give praise to the efforts involved. Thank you so much for sharing the beauty!

Peace,
Audiohead22
audiophilehead@hotmail.com

Yes, this show is one of the best ever. On this night, the Dead pulled it all together and kicked down to those lucky enough to be at the Beacon. No need for this show to appologize to any night (exept maybe 5-8) of 1977. First off, the sound quality of this show is pure and exceptional. The mix is perfect, clarity right on and no background hiss. Wow.

One of the reveiwers below stated that he felt that this Crazy Fingers might be the best ever. Well, I agree with him 100%. The Crazy Fingers from 6-3-76 is also very nice, but not as nice as this show's. In fact, this Crazy Fingers is fore sure the Best of '76. Unfortunatly, after 76', the Dead take a long Crazy Fingers break until '82. By this time, (just facing facts, Jerry's voice isn't what it used to be, its a different sound, ect..... So check out the Crazy Finger. No disapiontments. The Jam in the middle is flawless and the Jam into Dancin' is golden.

This show also has one of my favorite High Times in all of the 70's. Its sweet, beautiful and even Donna seems to be on it for this one. Also, dont forgetthe killer Help/Slip/Franks and a super tight Cosmic Charie.

What a great show. Dont miss this one.
Peace @

Amazing sound for a 190+VBR playback....

Yes, I too get pretty silly over the best of 68-74, which is why this show is such a revelation. I believe I may like this even better than the legendary 7/18 Orpheum show. Worth it for the jam out of Crazy Fingers alone, and the sound quality must be heard to be believed. If anything truly deserves to be called "close to perfect" (my definition of five stars), this is one of the ones.

I love this show so much, i've got it to share for the responsible fans, fieldhouse11277@hotmail.com.

WOW Quality, my favourite show of 76? sweet and tight jimmy row, cold rain and snow Sounds Great, better than any 73-74 version, thankyouverymuch Mickey, Jerry and Kieth fight it out in Help, and the Crazy fingers is top shelve, Donna sounds great. might as well might as well : ) great wheel, and the lightning is a couch potatoe, what else do you want?

I dunno either, but what I do know is that the Might As Well kicks ass, but will it pay for Bobby's kid's college? I dunno that either, but for all of us here using this fine site, I hope so. Cheers.

GD 6/14/76 - it's hard to imagin 200 years after the american revolution we still have US Blooz...

Cosmic Charlie is so good - even Donna. Pace is slow and all the mic's are right on. Great mix. SB is mint. Help starts out like a theme song, Slipknot turns onto Powerful Blvd, and friggin Franklin's will steal your face -- but it's sooo peaceful and jazzed thruout

boyz were tight tonight!
--- ahhh the 70's.

...listen, learn, forget, remember

This show could be so awesome. But by the second set, Donna's vocals are so egregiously and constantly out-of-tune that it ruins the listening experience. I actually stopped the CD and removed it from my stereo after she'd butchered "The Wheel" and "High Time." And usually I'm able to overlook Donna's caterwauling and yelling, and the occasional flat note. But in set two, she is off on every note. My God-- what an exercise in frustration. Plus, Jerry's playing is superb. If you could remove Donna's vocals, you'd have as top-flight a show as any that the band ever played.

I don't think I've heard one better. A great example of how "out there" they could get without losing each other.

I don't know if I've heard another show where every single band member was having such an incredible night all at once. That it was Phil's birthday makes it special, I think he's using a fretless bass, but from Jerry's virtuosity, to Bob's synchopation, Keith's wonderful noodling, and I don't think that I've ever enjoyed the two-drummer configuration so much, this show is amazing. (In later years it seems Bill and Mickey would be fairly conservative during the songs, reserving their best drumming for their solos.)

overall great show and recording. I haven't heard it in years. I always loved the Around and Around -- not my favorite tune but this is my favorite version. Don't know why they didn't play in this fashion more often.

this is what it's all about. Nice sound quality, great jams, definately a favorite of mine. i will recieve this one someday from a miracle working brother. for now i'll just sit here, listen, and enjoy. nothing more i can do.

Like many, I'm a '68-74 true believer. And I marvel at the best of '77, though it in no way rivals the best nights of '72-73. But check this one out, friends. The best sound I've heard on Archive, a great venue, and a special night. Deserving of five stars, IMHO. Peace.

So the Dead think about 'retiring' then come back in 1975 with the Blues For Allah material, play a few shows in that year and then come out in 1976 with yet again another re-invention of their sound which isn't exactly '74 or '75 or anything BUT 1976. What other band do you know of has so many different sound philosophies throughout their career? Not many even come close and that is one of the reasons why we of the DeadHead fold love this band with such devotion and seemingly never tire of listening to them!
This Beacon Theater show is a prime example of what the Grateful Dead were all about in 1976, a year that sometimes gets overlooked or at least under-valued due to its linear proximity to the banner year of 1977. But without this year of musical exploration and material development, none of that would have happened...right?
For some time I kept this June 14th show in the back of my mind, having some of it and most of the other Beacon shows already but still knowing some day I would need to download the entire show to hear what it had to offer. Well, how could I not download this show first? How could I have waited for over a year to get it all? Perhaps it was my blind preference to 1977 and other great years such as 1968 through 1974. Whatever the reason, all I can say is that I'm glad to finally have this great show and I want to talk about just one song...
Is this the best version of Crazy Fingers? Maybe, maybe not. All I know is Garcia still can sing it here in '76. It was subsequently dropped for an incredibly long time until its re-visitation in '82. Yet, Crazy Fingers was never the same. It never achieved the fluidity and grace that it had here, unfortunately. The instrumental jam at the end is so hypnotic, isn't it? Anyway, that's just one song here and all the songs could be analysed for their given merit but let yourself be the judge. Get this show and find out.
On top of the fact that this is a wonderful show, the sound here is primo too!

Laid back, yet intense all at the same time!

Great sound quality. The band is tight throughout, as are the vocals. A beautifully sung Jerry/Donna duet on the Wheel, a perfect High Time (rare for this period), great Music Never Stopped, and the 1976 version Cosmic Charlie -- a real gem. Crazy Fingers is also a highlight.

Even the "disco Dead" version (as we old-timers called it at the time) of Dancing in the Streets is hot, with Phil and Jerry on fire.

dead at their best.

crazy fingers is beautiful and has some jam at the end! Slipknot! is super long (13m?) and goes so far out you wonder if itll come back.

this show will make you smile smile smile

All the reviews are correct I've read since streaming the first song "crazy fingers."....crispy, soaring, resigned, relentless melodies.

INCREDIBLE SOUND, Great Setlist, Great Year... do yourself a favor and get it right now

Wow!

One of the first tapes i had. Here upon revisiting fifteen years later, its easy to see why i fell in love with this band. Tight throughout, great setlist. Vocals are on. The standards are at the top of their game from big river through mama tried and the classics are impressive for both their jams as well as for the seeming ease with which the band pulls them off. Relaxed yet intense. Can't say enough about this performance.

Lets just say to get to 1977 grateful dead,there had to be a transition to "that" sound.1976 is it.In fact,if you listen closley,they are very similar in style!

Pure Fat... the whole show... A keeper for the soul.

This Crazy Fingers could be my favorite version of any tune the band ever played...its just that good. Jerry sounds sooooo sweet and the playing is...wistful.

But there are many reasons to go for this show...Help>Slip is rough for the time, but endearingly so...it just plain rocks. I could go on...but won't.

Oh, very nice sound...

Wow!!! The band is just jumping with energy in this show. Great versions of The Music Never Stopped, Might As Well, Cosmic Charlie. The sound of the drums is crystal clear and Phils bass is wonderfully booming. The vocals sound young and fresh and very happy. Boy. Why can't every show have this kind of Sweet Joy! I hardly ever give 5 stars but yea, any show that opens a second set with The Wheel, and sounds as sweet as this, crank up the ipod!

Whenever I'm burned out listening to all the great 1972, 1973 or 1977 shows (LOL, we're all getting spoiled, aren't we?) I always turn to my 1976 collection. And I'm never disappointed. The first few shows of the year sound a little rusty in spots, and understandably so with the the year off from touring. But by mid June, they had re-discovered the magic groove, and this show is a testament to that fact.
Not only were they experimenting with some new sounds and styles in 1976, they also started to offer some interesting set lists - mixing newer songs with old favorites from the earlier days like Cosmic Charlie, High Time and Cold Rain. Here we get a fine mix of those songs, plus new additions like Lazy Lightning and Cassidy.
The Playin is full of tasty jamming by all, plus some fine inter-drumming between Bill and Mickey.

Set Two starts with The Wheel, rare and a good omen! Then we get a stellar version of Crazy Fingers that approaches Dark Star territory at times. And what hot versions of Music and Dancin! You'll be hard pressed to find better ones in 76.

Everyone seems to like the 6/3 version of Help>Slipknot, and I'll admit I haven't yet heard the 6/10 offering (next show on my list). But this version is tops in my book. Slower than 1977 versions, but at over 17 minutes, very inspired and unique, with great counterpoint jamming between Phil and Jerry.
This show often ranks 2nd for the year in Deadbase, listen and you'll see why! A sparkling SBD that will make you feel you're on stage with the band. Heartily recommended!
enjoy,
Dr. Flashback ;-)

Without a doubt, the best sounding show of 1976. Really sweet Cosmic Charlie too!

While not necessarily a stellar show (4+ stars), this recording is, by far, one of the most beautiful you'll ever hear. Listen to the range displayed by all the instruments on Crazy Fingers... the drums, the keys, the bass & guitars, mixed with a wonderfully on-key Donna singing back up, and you'll feel like you were there. I have DL'd at least a hundred discs since I found this site a few months ago, and I have yet to find any that sound as beautiful as this. Nice job!!!

Hot cold rain opener row jimmy brown eyed, ripping playin - crazy fingers into a gargantuan (maybe one of the best) dancin... this one is for the ages.

i had this on a maxell xl IIs tape that was hissy and recorded off the radio that dated from 1982 was never impressed with this show until now - this is a smoking show. for anyone that has ever been to the beacon it is prob the best place in new york to see the dead and has a wonderful tear the roof off vibe - obviously they got it as i believe this was their first show there.

great quality recording, great set list, especially the second set. A must have, rockin' good time. Also check out 6-15 for a truly blistering let it grow!

Intresting set list, can't get any better on the sound quality. A must have!!!

A+ sound quality
A for show content

Great sound overall, no noticable problems, and it's so Crispy!!!!
you can really pick out keith during this show especially in the intro of samson &delilah, which is a great jazzy version...the wheel played before this is a nice solid mellow version with a hot little jam before the close..playin is nice and long and charges hard into the final verse with a bang! (i'm reviewing the songs backwards sorry). an inspired high time continues a solid set II that includes only the second cosmic charlie since 71 (the other on 6/4/76).

the help>slip>franklins is mesmerizing!!! you forget where you are during this sequence!!!! In my opinion one of the best improvisational jams of the entire year!!!!!!

you need this 76' in your collection!!!!! 5 for quality! 4 for the show itself...i don't like giving 5's out....

In my top 3 for the year!!!

I may be prejudiced because I had this when I was a kid but I always liked this show. Sound quaility is five stars.

This is a really good copy of a classic 76 show. 76 often gets overlooked because of 74 and 77. 76 has its own sound and groove. And I love it. I am way partial to the groove of 76. I have always had a hard time putting it into words but then I realize I don't have to.

You can't go wrong with a board of this show. Betty was on her "A" recording game in June '76. The performance is good too, particularly the second set -- High Time is very nice, Crazy Fingers is good, the Slipknot is mindbending. The 1st set closer Playin is good and long. That's one song the band still could sink their teeth into right after the layoff.

Sound quality 5 stars. Although this is one of the best June '76 shows (imo), the best shows in '76 are from Sept.-Oct., so I rate the performance at 4 stars.

This show defines good sound quality. The set list is solid and typical for '76. It is all presented so beautifully, which makes it a much-worthy download.